​Any views or opinions presented in this blog are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the company. This blog is a unique perspective of one persons journey into fitness. Not all clients and participants at Parsons Training undergo the same training, and each person makes his or her own decisions regarding dietary discretions.

By Steve Sharpton, Parsons Training Center, Tucson, Arizona

PHASE VIIApril 9, 2018

Last week, I talked a little about one of my favorite online personalities in JP Sears, and I’m sure it came off as a bit of revelation that he is actually a pretty smart guy and the sarcastic often times funny facade that is his Ultra Spiritual Living series on his Youtube channel. If anything, I tend to get a little more out of the videos that actually give some good advice, even though I am having issues in my own life that are making it a struggle to implement such ideas. Obviously loving your results in your health both mental and physical is something Sears talked about in one of his serious videos, and boy do I have an issue with that sort of thing. Either way, I love a lot of his funny stuff, especially when he did a video about making a “Raw” pizza. Sure, it was kinda condescending when you think about it, but I have been exposed to enough raw vegans where their uppity attitudes and superiority complexes can be relatable. Now of course, not all raw vegans are bad, but they are the ones that make a mockery out of the movement more than others. I will say the most hilarious fitness video he has posted is the idea of “Prancercising.” Before you Google the video and start laughing at the idea, let me tell you this was a legitimate idea started by a woman named Joanna Rohrback and made a subsequent video back in 2012 to help better promote her idea. Now I say help “better” promote is because apparently the book was originally published in 1989!! https://youtu.be/o-50GjySwew She still has a website that posts an occasional blog or video, but not much has changed in the last few years. Either way, if you are still promoting an idea that is as old as most millennials (damn millenials, next they are gonna kill Prancercise I bet!!) and have not been laughed out of the room, then you are doing something right. Maybe I will give it a try.

​Now originally I was gonna make this whole blog about JP Sears but on the other hand, I think one is more than enough. If anything, a lot of people are posting stuff on social media these days, and much of the time the people that do so are pretty darn pretentious. Not to mention a lot of it is just downright fake. I will say another good comedy blog I like is BroScience, even if it is one of the most profane an sexist blogs on Youtube. On the other hand, it is brilliant satire considering the character Dom Mazetti is merely a stereotype of a gym bro trying to host a Youtube Channel. Some of it is pretty funny, and he has a pretty hilarious line of clothing for the gym going types. I won’t link any of his videos because like I said, it is pretty darn profane and might not match your sensibilities. Plus I don’t want you all to judge me, so yeah. One of the best satires he posted was The Pros and Cons of Using Steroids, which in true character fashion, the entire list was pretty much based around the pros of using steroids and getting huge. One video I especially enjoyed was when he pontificated about growing your fitness brand. “95 percent is packaging (showing off your muscle), the other five percent is stealing other people’s content.” Considering I follow and see quite a few of these people, I have to believe this is a pretty true thing….pretty poignant and real stuff from a character meant to be a joke. This kind of leads to the other message I have in the blog.

Let’s look at it this way, there is gonna be some funny stuff that a lot of people like myself will get a kick out of. Watching Fail Army is my jam, witnessing people doing stupid things that can really hurt them. This is essentially a primer for some people that have nutty ideas in their head, ideas that could seriously hurt them and rack up some doctors bills. Now in some instances, the fails are effort fails, where someone tried lifting a personal best in the deadlift and then fainted or someone trying to do a high jump like J.J. Watt likes doing. Trying to hang clean 300 pounds or do some cockamamie idea you saw in a Crossfit video is the kind of stuff you have coming to you. Stick to the burpies and the thrusters my Crossfit friends. Anyway, there is another type of video out there where you see people lifting massive amounts of weights. Some of these people have so many plates on their bars they could serve a Catholic wedding (okay, I am not good with humor…). Anyway, the bottom line here is be careful about the people you follow. A guy with 30-inch guns might have used steroids…even if he denies it. Some people definitely look the part and can certainly impress you with their physiques, but you have to learn how to spot the fakes and not emulate such individuals. https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/vbgv73/fake-weights-are-helping-instagram-stars-go-viral The two big ones mentioned in this article were Brad Castleberry and Gracyanne Barbosa, and their fakeness has even created a whole new series of Youtube commentators…confronting and debunking fitness professional’s feats. This is one thing I like about reality and Parsons Training, you will not be lied to about what you see. Here is a good primer video for you when you see people lifting massive amounts of weight and whether or not they are fake videos. https://youtu.be/P4n_lnzbfmk Of course, it is up to you if you want to follow and emulate some people…that is your choice. But at least follow the kind of people that will pose as something they are not. The grand irony of course is these people are pretty darn fit to begin with, so why do they have to fake it? Well, egos and money are always the number one reasons, so be careful when meeting these kinds of people in real life.

Now the social media world out there is a pretty big one, and I would say utilize it to your highest degree when it comes to coming up with ideas on what you need to do with your weightlifting and fitness regime. If you want something on calisthenics…boom! https://youtu.be/kIVxdIWy7Eo How about the first step to starting a strongman regime (which ironically according to this guy…sign up for a sanctioned event!) https://youtu.be/sIpBQmnkxUE There is a whole lot of stuff you can find out there, so be sure to find the type of workouts that are A) safe and B) within your capabilities. Challenge yourself accordingly.

About Parsons TrainingParsons Training is a Tucson leader in fitness and personal wellness training. Every personal trainer with this company designs and implements effective fitness programs for their clients; these programs serve as the foundation for good health, fitness, and wellness. Additional information about Parsons Training is available at http://www.parsonspersonaltraining.com

Any views or opinions presented in this blog are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the company.

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Meet the Author

Steve, a Parsons Training Client, went from 400 pounds to Running half-marathons, from lifting pizzas to lifting hundreds of pounds through training with us.When you read this blog you are reading through the eyes of someone who is winning the battle of real weight loss. Steve is not a fitness professional, but he is someone we can all learn from.Steve shares his journey once a week here on our blog. We hope that you find a spark of inspiration from reading his blog.

​Any views or opinions presented in this blog are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the company. The author of this blog is an independent writer and is not an associate of Parsons Training, LLC. Any information or images displayed are done so solely at the authors discretion. Any dietary or fitness commentary is exclusively that of the author and in no way dictated by the company.